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Skin Conditions

Millions of Americans suffer with skin disorders each year, but many of these medical conditions are treatable. Paul M. Friedman, M.D. in Houston, Texas has treated thousands of patients over the years with a variety of skin conditions. Dr. Friedman treats:

Acne

Not just common among adolescents, acne affects people of all ages and can cause extreme self-consciousness about one’s appearance. The condition is characterized by plugged pores in the skin, and can appear in a variety of body areas, often along the face. If left untreated, acne can cause permanent scarring. A number of treatments, including topical medicines, skin rejuvenation products, and laser treatment can reduce the appearance of acne.

Acne Scars

Acne scars form wherever acne advances to the point of injuring tissue. These injuries lead to depressions or indentations that occur from the skin’s natural healing process. These scars contain reduced amounts of collagen, have irregularly structured dermal fibers and usually lack elasticity. Successful acne scar removal requires both the removal of damaged epidermal tissue and the stimulation of new collagen to improve tone and texture.

Actinic Keratoses

Actinic Keratoses are typically found on areas of the body that are frequently exposed to the sun and appears as scaly, red patches on the skin. We offer several treatment options to safely and effectively treat actinic keratoses.

Age Spots

Also called “liver spots.” Flat, brown areas usually found on the face, hands, and feet. Age spots are usually associated with aging, but chronic sun exposure is a major cause. They are easily removed by a dermatologist.

Basal Cell Carcinoma

Basal Cell Carcinoma is the most common type of skin cancer, often appearing as a shiny nodule or red patch on the skin. Most of the time, basal cell carcinoma appears on the neck and face; however, it can affect virtually any area of the skin. It can be locally destructive if left untreated. Our dermatologists will carefully examine your skin to determine the best treatment options for this condition.

Becker’s Nevus

Becker’s Nevus is a skin condition that is usually seen in men and appears as a light to dark brown patch on different areas of the body. The hyperpigmentation and excess hair associated with Becker’s Nevus can be treated with laser procedures to help reduce its appearance on your skin.

Birthmarks

Many babies have what are called “birthmarks” when they’re born. In some cases they may appear within the first few weeks of life. They can be brown, tan, blue, pink, or red. More than 10 in 100 babies have vascular birthmarks. These are made up of blood vessels bunched together in the skin. They can be flat or raised, pink, red or bluish discolorations.

Broken Blood Vessels

Broken and enlarged blood vessels commonly occur on different areas of the face and are often caused by rosacea, aging, dry skin and/or sun damage. Our dermatologists offer several treatment options to help reduce the visibility of broken and enlarged blood vessels.

Cafe Au Lait Macules

Cafe Au Lait Macules, also known as CALMs, are areas of hyperpigmentation on the skin that are common birthmarks. Our dermatologists offer several laser treatment options that can effectively reduce the appearance of Cafe Au Lait Macules.

Facial Redness

Facial redness is a common skin condition that can be caused by a variety of factors. If you feel self-conscious about facial redness, we can provide you with advanced laser treatment options to help balance out your skin tone.

Hemangiomas

Benign tumors of the vascular endothelium. Hemangiomas of infancy are the most common type of hemangiomas, characterized by a unique natural history of growth in early infancy, followed by slow involution over the next several years. Hemangiomas may be present at the time of birth as so-called precursor lesions in approximately half of the cases. Rarely are they fully-formed tumors at birth. In the remainder of cases, lesions become evident after birth, usually within the second and fourth weeks of life.

Melasma

A skin condition presenting as brown patches on the face of adults. The most common sites of involvement are the cheeks, bridge of nose, forehead, and upper lip. Melasma occurs mostly in women. Only 10% of those affected are men. Dark-skinned races, particularly Hispanics, Asians, Indians, people from the Middle East, and Northern Africa, tend to have Melasma more than others.

Nevus of Ota

Nevus of Ota is a skin condition that is commonly found in women, although it appears in men as well. The condition typically manifests as facial hyperpigmentation, often as a blue or gray patch along the skin. Our dermatologists can provide you with laser treatment to diminish the appearance of Nevus of Ota and help you feel more confident about the way you look.

Port Wine Stains

Red birthmarks, also called “port wine stains“, appear at birth and are exhibited by reddish marks caused by an over-abundance of blood vessels. The coloring ranges from pale pink to dark purple. They are most often found on the face, neck and top of the shoulder or chest, though they can appear anywhere on the body.

New treatments using the Vbeam® Perfecta Laser provides relief for these patients. The Vbeam® Perfecta Laser is able to penetrate deep into the skin, targeting the red pigment and blood vessels. The laser works by vaporizing the blood vessels without harming the surrounding area. Several laser treatments are usually required. A maintenance program may be needed, as these type of birthmarks can reappear.

Rosacea

A common skin disease that causes redness and swelling on the face. Often referred to as “adult acne,” rosacea may begin as a tendency to flush or blush easily, and progress to persistent redness in the center of the face that may gradually involve the cheeks, forehead, chin, and nose. It also may involve the ears, chest and back. As the disease progresses, small blood vessels and tiny pimples begin to appear on and around the reddened area; however, unlike acne, there are no blackheads.

Scars

Scars result when the skin repairs wounds caused by accident, disease, or surgery. They are a natural part of the healing process. The more the skin is damaged and the longer it takes to heal, the greater the chance of a noticeable scar. Typically, a scar may appear redder and thicker at first, then gradually fade. Many actively healing scars that seem unsightly at three months may heal nicely if given more time. The way a scar forms is affected by an individual’s age and the location on the body or face. Younger skin makes strong repairs and tends to result in larger, thicker scars than does older skin. Skin over a jawbone is tighter than skin on the cheek and will make a scar easier to see. If a scar is indented or raised, irregular shadows will be seen, giving the skin an uneven appearance. A scar that crosses natural expression lines or is wider than a wrinkle, will be more apparent because it will not follow a natural pattern nor look like a naturally occurring line. Any one, or a combination of these factors may result in a scar that, although healthy, may be improved by dermatologic surgical treatment.

Skin Cancer

Cancer is a condition where one type of cell grows without limit in a disorganized fashion, disrupting and replacing normal tissues and their functions, much like weeds overgrowing a garden. There are three main forms of skin cancer – Basal Cell Carcinoma, Squamous Cell Carcinoma and Melanoma. Basal Cell and Squamous Cell cancers are curable. Melanoma is also completely curable when detected early, but can be fatal if allowed to progress and spread. Melanoma is a cancer of the pigment producing cells in the skin, known as melanocytes. Normal melanocytes reside in the outer layer of the skin and produce the brown pigment melanin, which is responsible for the color of our skin. Melanoma describes melanocytes that become cancerous, grow, and invade other tissues.

Spider Veins

Spider veins are small enlarged superficial blood vessels that appear red or blue. They commonly occur on the legs, but frequently occur on the face or elsewhere. These dilated blood vessels may be short, unconnected lines each about the size of a large hair or connected in a matted, “sunburst” pattern. They may also look like a spider web or a tree with branches. Sometimes, they occur in a small area and aren’t very noticeable, or they can cover a large area of skin and be quite unattractive. Larger dilated blood vessels called varicose veins may be raised above the skin surface. They may occur along with spider veins. Patients can have pain, ranging from a dull throbbing pain to a burning sensation. The larger vessels are more likely to cause discomfort, although smaller blue veins have been shown to cause pain. If spider veins are unsightly or uncomfortable, they can be treated with laser or by injection of a solution that will cause them to disappear or become much smaller. There is about a 50 – 90 percent chance for a greatly improved appearance.

Stretch Marks

Stretch marks occur when expanding skin is stretched to its limit and tiny tears appear in the supporting layers of skin. Stretch marks are quite common in pregnancy; about 50-90% of women will get stretch marks on their abdomen, breasts, thighs or buttocks during pregnancy.

Tattoo Removal

Laser tattoo removal for men and women is safe and effective and can be performed on all body areas: face, neck, chest, breasts, buttocks, legs, and feet. Modern technology has proven that tattoos do not need to be permanent. However, the scarring and discoloration that can occur with many types of procedures can be permanent (depending on skin type and tattoo color). Contact Us to find out what you need to know to achieve safe and reliable results when removing tattoos. Thanks to new technology, tattoos can be removed quickly as well as effectively.

Wrinkles

The reason why younger people do not have wrinkles is because their skin does its job of stretching and holding in moisture. The outermost layer in the skin is called as epidermis. This has elastic qualities due to the presence of fibers called elastin. It keeps the skin fresh and young. Collagen, a type of protein present in dermis also plays a part of preventing wrinkles.

With time the dermis loses both elastin and collagen hence the skin gets thinner and is not able to retain enough moisture for the epidermis. The fat in the subcutaneous layer that gives skin a plump appearance also begins to disappear, the epidermis starts to sag, and wrinkles begin to form.